and I dare
you to follow me!"

Sammy Jay actually laughed right out. "Go ahead. Wherever you go, I'll
go," he declared.

Happy Jack started right away for Farmer Brown's house, and Sammy
followed. Through the Old Orchard, across the dooryard and into the big
maple tree Happy Jack led the way, and Sammy followed, all the time
wondering what was up. He had been there many times. In fact, he had had
many a good meal of suet there during the cold weather, for Farmer
Brown's boy had kept a big piece tied to a branch of the maple tree for
those who were hungry.

Sammy was a little surprised when he saw Happy Jack jump over on to the
window-sill. Still, he had been on that window-sill more than once
himself, when he had made sure that no one was near, and had helped
himself to the cracked nuts he had found there.

"Come on!" called Happy Jack, his eyes twinkling.

Sammy Jay chuckled. "He thinks I don't dare go over there," he thought.
"Well, I'll fool him."

With a hasty look to see that no danger was near, he spread his wings to
follow Happy Jack on to the window-sill. Happy Jack waited to make sure
that he really was coming and then slipped in at the open window and
scampered over to a table on the farther side of the room and helped
himself from a dish of nuts there.

When Sammy saw Happy Jack disappear inside he gave a little gasp. When
he looked inside and saw Happy Jack making himself quite at home, he
gasped again. And when he saw a door open and Farmer Brown's boy enter,
and still Happy Jack did not run, he was too upset for words. He didn't
dare stay to see more, and for once in his life was quite speechless as
he flew back to the Green Forest.

CHAPTER XXIV

A DREAM COMES TRUE

What are all our dreams made up of
That they often are so queer?
Wishes, hopes, and fond desires
All mixed up with foolish fears.

_Happy Jack._

Which is worse, to have a very beautiful dream never come true, or to
have a bad dream really come true? Happy Jack Squirrel says the latter
is worse, much worse. Dreams do come true once in a great while, you
know. One of Happy Jack's did. It came true, and it made a great
difference in Happy Jack's life. You see, it was like this:

Happy Jack had had so many things to think of that he had almost
forgotten about Shadow the Weasel. Happy Jack hadn't seen or heard
anything of him since Farmer Brown's boy had chased him into the Green
Forest and so sa